South Africa go into this year’s COSAFA Women’s Championship in Nelson Mandela Bay seeking a hat-trick of titles after claiming victory in the last two editions in 2017 and 2018.
But, as ever, they will have their work cut out at the July 31-August 11 in what is a highly-competitive Southern African region.
We take a look back at the recent form of this year’s competing nations in the COSAFA Women’s Championship to see what clues we might get as to how they will go in 2019.
GROUP A
SOUTH AFRICA
Banyana Banyana won all five games last year in Nelson Mandela Bay, which was an improvement on their 2017 tournament. It came on the back of a much tighter defence.
2017: P5 W3 D2 L0 GF12 GA6
2018: P5 W5 D0 L0 GF13 GA2
TOTAL: P10 W8 D2 L0 GF25 GA8
MALAWI
It has been fine margins in the last two years that saw the She Flames not make the semifinals, especially in 2017 when they were prolific in front of goal, but battled at the back.
2017: P3 W1 D1 L1 GF12 GA12
2018: P3 W1 D0 L2 GF2 GA8
TOTAL: P6 W2 D1 L3 GF14 GA20
COMOROS ISLANDS
Comoros will debut in the regional championship and be something of an unknown, though they did lose 13-0 to South Africa in 2014.
2017: P0 W0 D0 L0 GF0 GA0
2018: P0 W0 D0 L0 GF0 GA0
TOTAL: P0 W0 D0 L0 GF0 GA0
MADAGASCAR
Madagascar may have not got much joy from either of the last two tournaments, finishing bottom of their pool, but they did at least show a marked improvement in 2018 and that provides something to build on.
2017: P3 W0 D0 L3 GF4 GA17
2018: P3 W0 D1 L2 GF1 GA4
TOTAL: P3 W0 D1 L5 GF5 GA21
GROUP B
ZAMBIA
Zambia have breezed through the group stages of the last two tournaments, topping their pool, but missed out in the semifinals on both occasions. Last year they had among the best defences in the competition, but lacked a cutting edge up front.
2017: P5 W2 D3 L0 GF18 GA9
2018: P5 W3 D0 L2 GF6 GA2
TOTAL: P10 W5 D3 L2 GF24 GA11
NAMIBIA
Namibia have missed out on the semifinals in the last two editions, despite finishing the pool play with a positive goal-difference, including in 2017 when they were bottom of their group. You feel they are not far off finding success.
2017: P3 W1 D0 L2 GF6 GA5
2018: P3 W1 D1 L1 GF4 GA2
TOTAL: P6 W2 D1 L3 GF10 GA7
MAURITIUS
Mauritius skipped last year after a disappointing effort in 20917 when they were well-beaten in all three games without managing to score a goal. They will want to show their improvement in 2019.
2017: P3 W0 D0 L3 GF0 GA17
2018: P0 W0 D0 L0 GF10 GA0
TOTAL: P3 W0 D0 L3 GF0 GA17
BOTSWANA
Botswana finished second in their pool in each of the last two tournaments, both behind South Africa, but without the number of points to advance as the best placed runner-up.Can they go one better this year?
2017: P3 W1 D1 L1 GF4 GA5
2018: P3 W1 D1 L1 GF2 GA1
TOTAL: P6 W2 D2 L2 GF6 GA6
GROUP C
ZIMBABWE
Zimbabwe reached the final on home soil in 2017, despite finishing second in their pool behind Zambia, but narrowly missed out on a place in the knockout stages in 2018 with their six points not enough.
2017: P5 W2 D2 L1 GF13 GA6
2018: P3 W2 D0 L1 GF5 GA2
TOTAL: P8 W4 D2 L2 GF18 GA8
MOZAMBIQUE
Mozambique regressed in 2018 from their showing the previous year and will want to make sure they are tighter on defence this time round if they are to challenge for the semifinal places.
2017: P3 W1 D1 L1 GF7 GA7
2018: P3 W1 D0 L2 GF3 GA12
TOTAL: P6 W2 D1 L3 GF10 GA19
ANGOLA
Angola will be competing for the first time since they reached the final on home soil in 2008, but lost to South Africa.
2017: P0 W0 D0 L0 GF0 GA0
2018: P0 W0 D0 L0 GF0 GA0
TOTAL: P0 W0 D0 L0 GF0 GA0
ESWATINI
Eswatini proved competitive in 2017, having the third best defence out of all competitive teams, but could not match that feat last year as they lost all three games.
2017: P3 W1 D1L1 GF5 GA3
2018: P3 W0 D0 L3 GF4 GA11
TOTAL: P6 W1 D1 L4 GF9 GA14
